RECONFIGURABLE AIRCRAFT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reconfigurable aircraft, comprising:
- an aircraft body including a nose portion and a tail portion;
wings extending laterally from the aircraft body;
a propulsion system associated with the aircraft body; and
a plurality of payload retainers associated with the aircraft body, the payload retainers being configured to receive and retain payloads;
wherein the aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.
37 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A reconfigurable aircraft, comprising:
-
an aircraft body including a nose portion and a tail portion; wings extending laterally from the aircraft body; a propulsion system associated with the aircraft body; and a plurality of payload retainers associated with the aircraft body, the payload retainers being configured to receive and retain payloads; wherein the aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of reconfiguring an aircraft in flight, the method comprising the steps of:
-
engaging the aircraft, in flight, with an airborne supply vehicle; transferring payloads from the supply vehicle to the aircraft; and disengaging the aircraft, in flight, from the airborne supply vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification